Italian wine bottlings fall 5.4% in early 2026 as Gavi DOCG export surges

Italian wine bottlings dropped 5.4% in the first five months of 2026, extending a slowdown that began in 2025. Valoritalia’s report showed that higher‑value DOC and DOCG wines grew modestly while IGT wines fell 11%, sparkling wines rose 1.7% and red wines fell more than 13%. The data highlighted increasing concentration at the top of the supply chain, with the top 15 appellations accounting for 81% of certified volumes.

For the Gavi DOCG, the 2025 figures released by the consortium reported about 14 million bottles sold, 91% of which were exported. The United Kingdom remained the leading market with roughly 7 million bottles, followed by the United States and Germany. Domestic sales in Italy reversed a decade‑long decline, surpassing one million bottles. Export to China accelerated ten‑fold since 2023, reaching over 100 000 bottles. The consortium noted a shift from large‑scale retail to the horeca channel and credited enotourism for renewed interest in the home market.